Fireproof wall or building.



No. 729,408. l PATLNTLD MAY 26, 1903.

G. W. PIGKIN.

'PIREPROOF WALL 0R BUILDING.

APyLIoATIoH FILED MAR. 18. 1903.

Nd MODEL.

Ne. 729,408, Y

UNITED STATES Patented May 26, 1903..

PATENT OFFICE.

FIREPROOF WALL.OR BUILDING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,408, dated May 26,1903.

i epilation ned Mmh 1s, 190s. 'serai No, Masts. No model.)

Claire, in the county of Eau Claire and State strengthening the cornersof walls or build-A ings constructed from waterproof material.

In constructing a wall or building according to my invention I prefer touse blocks or bales made by compressing straw, hay, cornstalks, or anyother suitable dried vegetable growth or fiber. The blocks or bales aresaturated or treated with fire and Water proof solutions or substancesbefore using in order to render the walls or buildings constructedtherefrom impervious to Water and capable of resisting Iire. The blocksor bales may also be treated with a suitable solution for preventingdecay of the material from which they are made.

In describing my invention reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is aview, partly in elevation, of a wall constructed according tomy'invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

The numeral l indicates a layer of stone or brick, which `forms thefoundation of the building. Upon the foundation; 1 Vare laid the blocks2 ofjire and water proof material from which the wall or building isconstructed. The blocks 2 may becemcnted to one another and to thefoundation l in the manner well known in building.'construction.

Extending vertically through the blocks 2,

of which the wall or building is composed,

are rods 3, which are firmly anchored to thefoundation 1 in any desiredmanner, as shown at 4. Eachof the rods 3 is made in a plurality ofsections, which are screw-threaded at their ends and connected to eachother by nuts or couplings 5, as will be readily understood. At theupper end of the wall each of the rods 3 is provided with a nut andwasher 6, by adjustment of which the blocks 2 may be firmly clamped toone another and to the foundation 1.

At each corner of the wall or building constructed according tomyinvention is provided an ,angle-iron, 7, which effectually covers andprotects said corner. The angleirons 7 are held upon the` corners of thewalls or buildings by rods 8, which pass through bolt-holes in the saidangle-irons and cross each other, as shown. Each of the rods 8 is firmlyattached at its inner end to one of the rods`3. In order to facilitatethe attachment of the rods 8 to the rods 3, each of the rods S may beprovided at its inner end with an eye which encircles the' rod 3 and invthis way firmly holds the angleiron 7 against the corner of the Wall orbuilding. The outer end of each rod 8 is headed or enlarged, as shown,to prevent said rod being drawn entirely through the bolt-hole in theangle-iron.

It will be understood that the angle-irons 7 are extended along theupper corners 9 of the walls or buildings constructed according to myinvention. The angle-irons at the upper corners of walls or buildingsare firmly retained in place by the vertical rods 3 and the nuts andWashers 6, said vertical rods extending through the angle-iron at theupper corners of the walls or buildings, as shown.

In making the blocks or bales from which walls andubuildings areconstructed as above described I prefer to use straw, hay, cornstalks,or other vegetable growth or ber in a dry condition. This dry vegetablegrowth or uiberjis pressed into rectangular-'blocks or bales of anydesired size. Each block or bale is saturated yor treated witha irepandwater proof solution or ysubstance and also with a substance whichservesto prevent decay of the material from which it is made. v l

'A suitable fire and water proof solution, which also acts as a'preventive of decay, is produced in the-following manner: Half 'abushel of unslaked lime is properly slaked 'with boiling water. Theliquor obtained from the slaking operation is strained and a peck ofsalt previously dissolved in warm water is added thereto. Three poundsof ground rice,

IOC

one-half pound of Spanish Whiting, and one pound of glue previouslydissolved in water are added to the solution of lime liquor andsalt-water. Five gallons of hot water are added to the mixture, Which isthen allowed to stand for a few days. The block or bale of buildingmaterial is Iirst dipped into a strong solution of alum-water and sthensaturated with the above-described fire and water proof mixture in aheated condition.

In making the fire and water proof solution which is described I may,it' desired, use a quantity of coloring-matter, so that the finishedbuilding blocks or bales will exhibit any desired color-such as, forinstance, red to imitate bricks and the like or white or intermediateshades to imitate stone.

In constructing buildings from blocks or bales according to my inventionthe inner and outer walls of each block are trimmed or out so as topresent a smooth surface. The inner wall of the building is covered withplaster or paper, as is usual and well known in building construction,and the outer wall may, ifdesired, be sprayed with cement or any othersuitable finishing material.

A wall or building constructed in accordance with my invention is proofagainst re, water, dampness, frost, and the like. It is also healthful,inexpensive in construction, and practically indestructible.

, If in constructing a wall according to my invention the bolted rodsare found insufficient to hold the bales or blocks in position, longiron spikes may be driven at various angles through the bales or blocksto hold them firmly upon one another.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. A wall or building comprising a founda tion, a plurality of blocks orbales mounted upon said foundation, a plurality of rods connected attheir lower ends to said foundation, extending through said blocks orbales, angle-irons upon the corners ofthe wall or building, and rodsconnected with said angle-irons and with said first-mentioned rods forretaining said angle-irons in position.

2. A wall or building comprising a foundation, a plurality of blocks orbales mounted on said foundation, a. plurality of rods connected attheir lower ends to said foundation,

extending through said blocks or bales, an-

GEORGE V. PICKIN.

lVitnesses:

J. F. ELLIS, H. J. BARNES.

